LETTER: Solitude House worthy of National Register status

It is encouraging to see High Bridge is following the Union Forge Heritage Association's lead and continuing to strive for National Register status for Solitude House. I had the good fortune in 2003, as a UFHA volunteer, to complete the preliminary research and application to the state Historic Preservation Office. As a result, in 2003, a certification of eligibility for the State-National Register of Historic Places for Solitude House (and out buildings) was awarded by State Deputy Historic Preservation Officer Dorothy Guzzo, under Criterion C (architectural significance). Strong cases also were made for Criterion A (industrial history related to the association with Taylor Wharton) and Criterion B (association with people important to the American Revolution).

This certification finally opened the doors to High Bridge to apply for funding from the New Jersey Historic Trust and county preservation funding programs for the Solitude House. We wish them luck in their efforts.